sotto voce
adverb or adjective
sot·to vo·ce
ˌsä-tō-ˈvō-chē
1
: under the breath : in an undertone
also
: in a private manner
2
: very softly
—used as a direction in music
Did you know?
It’s no secret: sotto voce functions both as an adverb ("she began telling us sotto voce about the upcoming surprise party") and as an adjective ("he read the letter in a sotto voce delivery"). Borrowed into English from the Italian word sottovoce (literally meaning "under the voice"), the adverb sense first appeared in English in the 18th century and soon afterward found use in musical directions calling for whispered vocals. The adjective sense came about in the early 19th century.
Cite this Entry
“Sotto voce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sotto%20voce. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
